H.R. 3166House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide under the Medicare program for independent accreditation for dialysis facilities and assurance of high quality surveys with respect to such facilities.

Introduced July 6, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC

The bill changes the Medicare program to let dialysis centers be accredited by independent, nationally recognized accrediting bodies instead of only by the government. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to start accepting accreditation requests within 90 days and to conduct more frequent oversight of those accrediting organizations. It also sets a timeline for the first Medicare survey of a new dialysis facility, requiring it to begin within 90 days after the provider’s enrollment is marked as pending.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Social Security Act to allow an accreditation body approved by the HHS Secretary to accredit dialysis facilities.
  • Requires the HHS Secretary to begin accepting accreditation requests from national accrediting bodies within 90 days of the law’s enactment.
  • Mandates that the Secretary conduct more frequent validation surveys, accreditation program reviews, and performance reviews of approved accrediting bodies and the facilities they accredit.
  • Sets a new deadline: starting 180 days after enactment, an initial Medicare survey of a new dialysis provider must start no later than 90 days after the provider’s enrollment form is deemed complete and its status is pending approval.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

July 20, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 6, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

July 6, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

July 20, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 6, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3166

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 6, 2017

Ms. Jenkins of Kansas (for herself and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide under the Medicare program for independent accreditation for dialysis facilities and assurance of high quality surveys with respect to such facilities.

1.

Independent accreditation for dialysis facilities and assurance of high quality surveys

(a)

Accreditation and surveys

(1)

In general

Section 1865 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking or the conditions and requirements under section 1881(b); and

(ii)

in paragraph (4), by inserting (including a renal dialysis facility) after facility; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)

With respect to an accreditation body that has received approval from the Secretary under subsection (a)(3)(A) for accreditation of provider entities that are required to meet the conditions and requirements under section 1881(b), in addition to review and oversight authorities otherwise applicable under this title, the Secretary shall (as the Secretary determines appropriate) conduct, with respect to such accreditation body and provider entities, any or all of the following more frequently than is otherwise required to be conducted under this title with respect to other accreditation bodies or other provider entities:

(1)

Validation surveys referred to in subsection (d).

(2)

Accreditation program reviews (as defined in section 488.8(c) of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation).

(3)

Performance reviews (as defined in section 488.8(a) of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation).

.

(2)

Timing for acceptance of requests from accreditation organizations

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall begin accepting requests from national accreditation bodies for a finding described in section 1865(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb(a)(3)(A)) for purposes of accrediting provider entities that are required to meet the conditions and requirements under section 1881(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)).

(b)

Requirement for timing of surveys of new dialysis facilities

Section 1881(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: Beginning 180 days after the date of the enactment of this sentence, an initial survey of a provider of services or a renal dialysis facility to determine if the conditions and requirements under this paragraph are met shall be initiated not later than 90 days after such date on which both the provider enrollment form (without regard to whether such form is submitted prior to or after such date of enactment) has been determined by the Secretary to be complete and the provider’s enrollment status indicates approval is pending the results of such survey..